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Citizen Participation

The School Board welcomes comments from Fairfax County residents and believes that strong community engagement and outreach are important components of a successful school system.

Any material to be distributed to School Board members must be delivered to the School Board Office no less than one business day prior to a meeting to allow the Board members sufficient time to review the material.  Please provide 16 copies of any material to be distributed; a copy will be retained in the School Board Office for the public record.

You may mail your written comments to the School Board Office, 8115 Gatehouse Road, Suite 5400, Falls Church, VA 22042, or e-mail the School Board at SchoolBoardMembers@fcps.edu. (Please be aware that correspondence with School Board members is subject to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. This means that your correspondence may be made public if (1) it deals with FCPS business and (2) someone requests it--- even if you have asked that your message be kept confidential. Only a few topics are exempt from the disclosure requirement, such as information about identifiable students, and personnel information about individual employees.)

Sign up online to speak at a Regular Board meeting

Request to Speak at Regular Business Meetings

Frequently Asked Questions

Who may speak?

Fairfax County and City residents, FCPS employees, and non-Fairfax County business partners may address the Board.  The School Board Chairman may make exceptions about who may address the Board during citizen participation.

The Board expects that speakers deliver their comments with the decorum and respect appropriate to the conduct of the public's business.

Is written testimony required?

While written testimony is not required, providing written comments allows the Board and the staff the advantage of further review of your comments.  The Board, therefore, requests that you bring 16 copies of your remarks to the meeting and give them to the Deputy Clerk upon your arrival.

Your written remarks will be posted to the web page [in the Citizen Participation portion of the agenda] following the meeting.

What topics may I address?

Citizens may address topics on the regular meeting agenda:  a specific presentation, a new business item, or an action item.

An individual may speak about matters not on the published agenda if slots are available on the day of the meeting.  See “How do I sign up to speak?”

What topics may not be addressed?

The School Board will not hear statements involving issues that have been scheduled for a public hearing (such as Capital Improvement Program, budget, and boundaries).

Complaints regarding individual students or school-based employees may not be addressed.  Any such concerns should be directed to the appropriate school principal or other school official.

How long may I speak?

Each speaker shall limit his or her remarks to three (3) minutes.

How do I sign up to speak?

ONLINE
An individual may sign up online beginning at 6 a.m. three (3) business days prior to the meeting.  A maximum of ten (10) speaker slots are available, first come, first served.
 
The speakers list closes at 4:30 p.m. on the last business day prior to the meeting date.

BY PHONE
An individual may sign up by calling the School Board office at 571-423-1075.

IN PERSON (If slots are available)
An individual may come to the Board meeting and complete a request form, available from the Deputy Clerk of the School Board during the 30-minute period preceding the start of the meeting. An individual may call the School Board office at 571-423-1075 on the day of the meeting to determine if slots are available.

Request to Speak at Public Hearing

Frequently Asked Questions

What topics are reserved for public hearings?

The School Board schedules public hearings on specific topics, such as boundaries, budget, and the Capital Improvement Program to provide an opportunity for many residents to address the Board. Speakers at public hearings must limit their remarks to the topic germane to the public hearing.

How do I sign up to speak at a public hearing?

ONLINE
An individual may sign up online.

BY PHONE
An individual may sign up by calling the School Board office at 571-423-1075.

When does the speakers list open and when does it close?

The speakers list will open at 6 a.m. at least ten (10) business days prior to the public hearing. The list will close at 4:30 p.m. on the business day immediately preceding the day of the hearing for weekday hearings, or at 4:30 p.m. on the Thursday preceding a Saturday public hearing.

Who may speak at a public hearing?

Fairfax County and City residents, FCPS employees, and non-Fairfax County business partners may address the Board. The School Board Chairman may make exceptions about who may address the Board during the public hearing.

The Board expects that speakers deliver their comments with the decorum and respect appropriate to the conduct of the public's business.

Are substitute speakers allowed?

In the event a scheduled speaker cannot attend the hearing, a substitute speaker may present the scheduled speaker's remarks. If a scheduled speaker wishes to relinquish their slot to someone else, the scheduled speaker should call the School Board office no later than 4 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

No one person shall be permitted to substitute for more than one speaker on the list and no one person shall be permitted more than one slot on the speakers list.

How long may I speak?

Each speaker shall limit his or her remarks to three (3) minutes.

Is written testimony required?

While written testimony is not required, providing written comments allows the Board and the staff the advantage of further review of your comments. The Board, therefore, requests that you bring 16 copies of your remarks to the meeting and give them to the Deputy Clerk upon your arrival.

Your written remarks will be posted to the web page [on the public hearing agenda] following the meeting.